Linotype-machine.



, PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

L.L.KEi INEDY. LINOTYPE MACHINE.

APTLIQATION TILED SEPT. 1, 1904.

Patented March 7, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

LUTHER L. KENNEDY, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK. ASSIGNOR TO MER- GENTHALERLINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATlON OF NElV YORK.

LlNOTYPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,267, dated March'7, 1905.

Application filed September 1,1904. Serial No. 222,998.

To all 103mm, 2'1- m-(ty concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER L. KENNEDY, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Im- 5 provement inLinotype\/Iacl1ines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to linotypemachines of the generalcharacter represented in Letters Patent of the United States No.

436.532. In these machines metal matrices representing individualcharacters are stored in a magazine, from which they are released one ata time in the order in which their charactors are to appear in print,the matrices,

together with expansible spacers, being delivered successively into anassembling mechanism wherein they are assembled or composed in lines,each line being thereafter presented momentarily to the face of a moldto form relief characters or type on the edge of a slug therein, afterwhich the line is raised to the top of the machine and the individualmatrices returned through a distributing mechanism to themagazine-channels from which they started. After the matrix-line iscomposed in the assembler the latter is raised for the purpose ofpresenting the line to a horizontal movable carrier by which the line ismoved forward toward the mold.

It is of course necessary that the horizontal carrier shall return toits original or receiving position before a second line is presentedthereto by the elevation of the assembler.

The object of the present invention is to pre- 3 5 vent the operatorfrom lifting the assembler and sending the composed line forward towardthe casting mechanism unless it has been composed or set out to suchlength that it can be automatically justified by the spacing de- 4 vicesof the machine.

To this end it consists, essentially, of means for normally locking theassembling-elevator down, in combination with tripping or releasingdevices connected with the assemblerslide, so that the assembler isunlocked and free to rise only when the assembler-slide is held forwardby the presence of afull line of matrices therein. A tripping device isconnected with the means for adjusting the assembling mechanism to setlines of differ- 5 ent lengths, so that the act of adjusting the machinefor any given measure or length of line also effects the adjustment ofthe tripping device.

As all the other parts may be of ordinary construction, I have confinedthe drawings herein to those parts to which my invention is immediatelyrelated.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the assembling mechanism, theassembling-ele- 6O vator, and adjacent parts. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, H represents an inclined belt which receivesthe matrices successively from the magazine and delivers them downwardover a guiding-surface to a position in front of a rotary star-wheel7L3, by which they are pushed forward successively side by side into thehorizontal channel or groove in the upper end of the assembling- 7elevator I. The matrices Z are sustained, as usual, in the elevator byhorizontal shoulders therein.

As the composed line is increased in length by the addition of matricesand spacers there- 7 5.

to its advance is resisted, and it is held in compact form by theyielding finger or resistant J, carried by a horizontal slide j, guidedin the main frame and known as the assembler-slide. This slide is urgedconstantly to 30 the right with moderate pressure by a spring or weight,as usual, and as it advances step by step it will be arrested and helduntil the composition of the line is completed by the usual brake ordetent. 5

The machine is adjusted to set a line of predetermined length by meansof a stop block or slide 11, mounted in a horizontal slot in the slide jand adjustably secured by a set-screw. \Vhen the line is of thepredetermined length 9 or of such approximation thereto as to forbid theinsertion of the matrices for another word or syllable, the stop 1',which sounds an alarmbell, as usual, encounters a fixed stop on theframe, thereby arresting the advance of resistantj, whereupon thedelivery of matrices to the line is stopped preparatory to sending theline forward to the mold.

The assembling-elevator I is mounted, as usual, to slide vertically inthe frame and conthe assembler is raised and the composed line carriedupward between the depending arms of the transfer-carriage L L, whichthen moves horizontally to the left, carrying the line toward the mold.When the line is lifted by the elevator, it is carried clear of theresistant J, and the assembler-slide immediately moves to the right,returning the finger J to a position near the star-wheel preparatory tothe composition of the next line.

The foregoing parts correspond to those which bear like letters inPatent No. 436,532

and may be of the same or any equivalent construction.

My improvementis designed to prevent the assembler I from being elevatedto cause the transfer of the composed line until the line has acquired alength sufficient to insure its proper justification or elongation tothe predetermined length by means of the ordinary wedge spacers orjustifiers Y, forming part of the machine. For this purpose I provide anautomatic dog or look M to hold the assembler down in its normal orreceiving position. The locking device may be of any suitableconstruction, but is preferably made inthe form of a gravitating dogpivoted to the frame in position to directly engage the elevator, asshown. Whenever the elevator is lowered to the receiving position, thisdog engages automatically to prevent it from beinglifted.

For the purpose of disengaging the dog and releasing the elevator whenthe line has acquired the proper length I mount in the assembler-slidey'a longitudinal rod N, having one end connected directly or indirectlyto the adjustable stop-block and the opposite end in position toencounter the dog. This rod is carried forward with the assembler-slideas the matrix-line is elongated, and the parts are so proportion ed thatwhen the line reaches the proper length the rod N will encounter the dogand push it out of engagement, thus leaving the elevator free to rise.When the elevator rises, the assembler-slide retreats to the right,carrying with it the rod N and releasing the dog M, so that theassembler is automatically rel'ocked when it is lowered. The assemblercannot be again elevated until the second line has reached the properlength, when the dog will be disengaged as before.

Inasmuch as the tripping device is connected to the stop 2', whichcontrols the travel of the assembler-slide and the length of linecomposed, it follows that the adjustment of the stop 2' to set themachine to any given length of line also serves to adjust the trippingdevice to correspond with the new measure or length of line. The essenceof my invention in this regard consists particularly incombinperforations to receive the stud ing with means for sending thecomposed line forward, and ad ustable devices for controlling the lengthof the line, intermediate connecand arrangement without departing fromthe method of operation herein described or passing beyond the limits ofmy invention.

v In operating the machine the matrix-line first composed in theassembler is usually of less than the final length, justification by thewedge-spacers occurring after the composition is completed. This isbecause the line as composed is freq uentlyof such length that theremaining space allotted will not admit the matrices for another word orsyllable. The average space remaining to be filled for justificationwill depend to some extent on the final length or measure of the lineand on the size of the type-faces and matrices employed. It is usual toset the stop device 71 to arrest the finger J before the matrix-line hasreached the printing length or measure.

I prefer to connect the rod N ad justably with the stop 2', as shown inthe drawings, or in any other suitable manner. tion shown the stop 2' isdivided vertically and its forward end j secured to the trip-rod N andadjustably connected to the main portion 2' by a flat spring 7' having aseries of on the part 2'. These connections admit'of the rod being setforward and backward in relation to the stop 2' so that the trippingaction will occur sooner or later.

It will be understood that the adjustable connection between the rod Nand the stop is not of the essence of the invention and is not anecessary feature and also that any suitable adjustable connection-maybe employed.

The assembling-elevator, assembler-slide, and the means for deliveringmatrices thereto constitute jointly what is commonly known as thecomposing or assembling mechanism, while the adjustable stop for theassembler-slide is a means for determining the length of the composedline.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a linotype-machine, thecombination of a matrix-assembling mechanism, adjustable means fordetermining the length of the composed line, and means connected withthe latter to prevent the transfer of the composed line until it hasacquired the predetermined length, whereby the adjustment of the machinefor a line of any given length automatically effects the correspondingadjustment of lthe means for preventing the transfer of the 2. In alinotype-machine, the combination IIO bler-slide, an adjustable stopthereon, and a D. S. KENNEDY.

of the assembling-elevator, a locking device connection from said stopto release the as- I0 therefor, the assembler-slide, an ad ustablesembler-lock.

stop therefor, and a trip for the locking de- In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set vice connected with said stop. my hand, this 6th dayof June, 1904, in the 3. In a linotype-machine, the assemblingpresenceof two attesting Witnesses.

elevator and means for delivering matrices LUTHER L. KENNEDY.

thereto, in combination with a lock to pre \Vitnesses:

vent the movement of the elevator, the assem- JOHN R. ROGERS,

